SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The Montana State University Billings baseball team closed thier opening weekend with a 3-1 series win over CSU San Bernardino, despite a 25–9 game four loss on Sunday afternoon at Fiscalini Field.
The Yellowjackets (3-1) totaled nine runs on nine hits and received multiple strong offensive performances, but CSUSB used sustained pressure at the plate and several big innings to pull away in a game that featured 34 combined runs.
MSUB was led offensively by
Ryker Fortier, who went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
Jack Nehler finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base, while
Jason Wright provided a spark off the bench with a pinch-hit three-run home run in the seventh inning.
River Smith went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, and
Kyle Henington added a 1-for-5 day with a run scored.
"Game four got away from us," said head coach
Derek Waddoups. "We had our opportunities in the middle innings but didn't make enough plays defensively, and we didn't make enough pitches on the mount to minimize their big innings. We were able to score runs all weekend and other than game four, we did a fabulous job defensively. Overall, I'm very proud of our product for the opening weekend of the season."
Game Flow
The Yellowjackets opened the scoring in the third inning.
Cade Queen reached on an error before
Kyle Henington singled, and both runners eventually scored on a pair of CSUSB miscues and a Nehler RBI single to give MSUB a 2–0 lead. Cal State San Bernardino answered in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run to tie the game.
Momentum swung decisively in the fourth as CSUSB plated six runs, highlighted by a grand slam and an RBI double, to take an 8–2 advantage. The hosts continued to add on with two more runs in the fifth and two in the sixth, extending the lead to 12–2.
MSUB mounted a response in the seventh inning, stringing together its most productive frame of the afternoon. Queen and Fortier reached to open the inning before Nehler drove in a run with a single. Smith followed with an RBI single of his own, and Wright capped the rally with a three-run home run to right field, trimming the deficit to 12–7.
Any comeback hopes were quickly dashed in the bottom of the seventh, as CSUSB erupted for seven runs, including a four-run home run, to push the margin back to double digits. Fortier added his second home run of the weekend in the eighth, a two-run shot to left field, accounting for MSUB's final runs of the day.
Queen made the start for the Yellowjackets, allowing two runs on one hit with six walks and one strikeout over 2.1 innings.
Lance Schaaf took the loss after surrendering three runs in 0.2 innings of relief.
Colby Garey-Wright allowed two runs in 0.1 innings, while
Malcolm Bartholomew worked 1.2 innings, striking out two,
Brody Nanini tossed one inning,
Carson Waples recorded two outs,
Noah Pringle worked 0.1 innings, and
Cody Snow closed the game with one inning pitched.
STAT LEADERS
H:
Ryker Fortier (3);
Jack Nehler (3)
R:
Ryker Fortier (2)
RBI:
Jason Wright (3)
IP:
Cade Queen (2.1)
SO:
Malcolm Bartholomew (2)
THE BUZZ: Ryker Fortier was named Intermountain Health Player of the game after going 3-5 at the plate with two runs, two RBIs, and a home run.
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets continue their early-season road trip with a three-game series at Colorado State Pueblo beginning Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Pueblo, Colorado.
